Southport Forums - Exclusive: New Euro Park for Pleasureland site

Exclusive: New Euro Park for Pleasureland site
Thu 31st May 2007, 04:59 PM
Reported by: onthespot

Exclusive:New Euro Park for Pleasureland site

Southport.gb.com first with the news!

Southport.gb.com can confirm that the former Southport Pleasureland site now has new owners. Sefton Council have leased the site to multi-millionaire businessman, Norman Wallis, of Dreamstorm (Liverpool).

Development is currently underway on the former Pleasureland site. The site will be transformed into a Euro Attractions Park which will comprise of a mixed use leisure park. The first phase is underway and Norman is hopeful that it will be complete within the next few months, and open to the public in the near future. Entry to the park will be free of charge.

Norman Wallis

In an exclusive interview Mr Wallis told Onthespot: “Southport is a beautiful town and our company plan to put Southport “back on the map”. We will be investing £100M + into this exciting new project which will be out of this world when complete. There will be different stages of developments and we hope to complete the project to coincide with the European Capital of Culture 2008.

“Dreamstorm” are also investing over £20M in a new development to be sited on the waste land next to McDonalds, Marine Drive, Southport.

Mr Wallis’s family have been in the leisure business for over 150 years and sold the Silcock family their first ever amusement ride.

Electrical contractors on site 31/may/2007

Electrical contractors are on site making live cables safe that were allegedly left by former leaseholders BPB.

Pictured below is Tony Corfield (Sefton Council) saying goodbye to David Cam (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) on May 9th 2007

Onthespot - your online reporter

Do you have a story to tell? Please text or phone 07930717137 or email press@southport.gb.com

YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE

(61 comments)

jordan1234 says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 05:19 PM

i have three points to make on this subject:

1. southports pleasureland WAS an attraction, an attraction that has been there for many many years and generations of families went there. it WAS something for our town to be on the map for, and we where!

2. why does southport need more european people? i myself have been trying for three months to get a job and it has proved impossible because of the europeans we have in OUR town!

3. it does sound a good idea though and maybe MORE poeple in future generations will love and respect the park as we did pleasureland!

Dragons Breath says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 05:24 PM

This sounds like very good news. I look forward to seeing more details of the attractions that they intend to build on the site.

ThelmaK says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 05:44 PM

What on earth is a "Euro Attractions Park" ?
I hope all goes well with the development and it doesan't turn out to be another "false start"

andy24 says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 05:47 PM

I think euro attractions is just a snazzy name for a new fair.

Like Porta Ventura in spain and such

Jackdaw says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 06:37 PM

Norman Wallis perhaps?

Director of Dreamstorm International, same company that is involved in the £500m Storm City project for Blackpool along with a proposed 'Blackpool Eye' along the lines of the London Eye.

Pretty sure someone mentioned that company way back as a potential developer ;)

F2.8 says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 06:38 PM

i say good luck to them anything will be better than what is there now.
Cant see them building a dreamstorm/europark/disny world though in a few months !!! takes two years to building a bloody swimming pool here !!!!

Hey ped i have typed your name in to google on the readers wives section and got a hit on you !!! xx

cornflakes says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 06:52 PM

Here we are folks you can always rely on conflakes. This is dreamstorm web site. You should have checked google and typed in dreamstorm international...

http://dreamstormgroup.com/aboutus.htm

cornflakes says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 06:53 PM

They are also involved here..

http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/d...on don_eye.php

cornflakes says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 06:56 PM

More here...

http://www.blackpoolonline.co.uk/bl...ticleid=2845693

This also...

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...he_seaside.html

cornflakes says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 07:10 PM

Dreamstorm mentioned here..

http://www.blackpooltoday.co.uk/Vie...ticleid=2849772

Here also...

http://www.southportforums.com/foru...uote=1&p=694642

Blackpool Today

£500m vision for Blackpool

Storm City

BLACKPOOL'S much-vaunted Storm City would bring a jobs and tourism boom as never before seen in Blackpool.

That is the ambitious claim by developers who today confidently predicted the proposed £500m leisure complex would attract nine million visitors a year and generate almost £300m in annual revenue.

And they say if the scheme gets the go ahead it will create 7,650 jobs.

Developers behind the massive undercover theme park earmarked for Rigby Road have this week submitted a detailed appraisal of the scheme after entering into an agreement with Blackpool Council.
The 30-page dossier enables them to discuss their plans exclusively with town hall regeneration chiefs.
Promising
Dreamstorm International, which is proposing the scheme, has already won over many hoteliers in the resort.
They say Storm City is the kind of major attraction the resort needs to survive since the delay of the supercasino dream.
The dossier promises: "The two main entrance facades, 90 metres wide, open on to a magical internal landscape with themed gateways leading to individually designed leisure zones and five themed areas."
It is a promising vision many are now pinning their hopes on, although the dream is at a very early stage.
Blackpool Council chief executive Steve Weaver told businessmen behind Storm City it could not proceed unless there was a firm plan in place which included more detailed costings and revenue expectations.
This new appraisal sets out plans for 3.4 million square feet of undercover space, 80 per cent of which would be let out to commercial tenants. There would be four 330-bedroom hotels with brands such as Four Seasons and Hard Rock suggested as the operators.
The scheme also includes between 300,000 square feet and 375,000 square feet each of retail, food and beverage outlets and commercial leisure with the latter to include 10-pin bowling, a cinema and
bingo.
Companies such as Megabowl, Gala and Mecca are suggested as possible operators.
There would also be 5,488 parking spaces plus apartments and office space.
Summer
Norman Wallis, director of Dreamstorm International, said: "The council officers have been very helpful and things are progressing. It is now in the hands of councillors, council officers and the people of Blackpool."
As reported in yesterday's Gazette Dreamstorm is also behind plans to bring a 200ft London Eye-style big wheel to Blackpool's Central Car Park – site of the proposed supercasino.
A planning application has been submitted to Blackpool Council.
If passed by the authority, Dreamstorm say the wheel could be in place by as early as this summer.
Lyn Cole, chairman of the Blackpool Combined Association and a long-time supporter of the plan, said the document now submitted to the council was proof Storm City could be made a reality.
She said: "I'm pleased that this appraisal has now been submitted. It's a very important document and it clearly proves the team have taken this development much further than just a concept.
"They have backed the project up with very hard hitting figures which show Blackpool has, within this development, the potential to create a world-class destination on an unbelievable scale."
Blackpool Council confirmed it had received the document, but said it could not comment further because a confidentiality agreement had been signed.

returnee says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 07:16 PM

That dreamstormgroup.com site is rather strange: most companies would have a portfolio of previous projects they'd been involved in, and of which they were proud. It seems odd not to mention any successes they've had... just lots of airy waffle and talk of partnerships...

cornflakes says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 07:17 PM

Seems Dreamstorm arent short of cash and they are involved in ambituous projects.

spaceace says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 07:28 PM

I believe the full name will be "Euro Adventureland" ...the Euro bit doesn't actually mean anything I don't think. As far as I know none of the remaining rides (Caterpillar, Ghost Train, River Caves and King Solomons Mines) will be used but they aren't being trashed, they're being relocated to Dreamland in Margate which means good news for the Scenic Railway down there.

Quote:

2. why does southport need more european people? i myself have been trying for three months to get a job and it has proved impossible because of the europeans we have in OUR town!

wind yer neck in, like I said, the Euro bit is just a name. Having said that, it's worth noting that in 2005 Pleasureland would have been knackered without European workers, applications were well down and without the foreign workers there wouldn't have been anywhere near enough people to staff the place.

pedoja says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 08:44 PM

http://dreamstormgroup.com/aboutus.htm is a very poor website

Whistle Blower says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 09:41 PM

We will have to wait and see what transpires, surely they will have to apply for planning permission.
Lets hope this time Seftons "banana council" have put in place the right clauses that will mean the same fiasco will not be allowed to happen as with the Blackpool lot debacle.
Whats a bit worrying is the Blackpool connection again.

iain in spain says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 09:50 PM

GOOD LUCK and if it all works out GOD BLESS YOU,Pleasureland might rise from the ashes yet!!!!.Think maybe on opening day Amanda and co at BPB should get an invite!!!YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Midge says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 09:56 PM

*sits back and waits*

kevinashe says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 10:10 PM

if theyre going to reconect power to the site then i would assume that all intact rides are staying put,dreamlands plans havent been finalised yet and this is the same picture that sefton council are painting

Greywolf says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 10:12 PM

Will they suffer fron the Sefton curse? It almost ssems that any company excepting a contract in Sefton goes bust. Sibec Ocean Plaza The Pier The list goes on. So find out who the contractors are, and sell your shares in them.

john6 says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 10:13 PM

haha IAN in spain, I think you should be responsible for the guest list! I COULD HUG EVERY PERSON IN THAT COMPANY! haha! YIPEEEE I am extatic! but have one question..... what is a euro park exactly? why the euro? will we have loads of more foreign workers and no jobs for our our locals? (god i making it sound like Royston Vasey (Leauge of Gentlemen, TV Comedy) and also it sounds like another type of shed retail park thing.... will this "Park" have a fair ground and rides? If so... then haha BPB and Welcome to Southport "Dreamstorm"

(by the sound of they sold Silcocks their first fair ride then i presume there shall be a new pleasureland! woo hoo! it could have alsorts! (if they are having Pleasureland cant they have the princes park too as it is always looking tatty!)

wooo hooo I am really pleased now! I want to tell everyone :D .... but im home alone :( DAMN!

Rudra says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 10:17 PM

Hope they get the plan off the ground and up and running shortly

john6 says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 10:42 PM

Well i just looked on their website and under the construction page it states... "Large or small our team has experience of all types of construction from general brick work to intricate rock theming and high tech Aquarium construction."
could the site infront of the mcdonalds be an aquarium? I think this would be the perfect finishing touch to the Ocean Plaza!!

Vivra Patricia says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 11:00 PM

It all sounds good--almost too good. I'm looking forward to reading here about the progress--with pictures!

Good Luck to all connected to the plan--may it end up even better than it sounds.

username2 says:	Thu 31st May 2007, 11:39 PM

Well the ocean plaza area did have an aquariam years ago until the demolished it (yeh they have a habit of that) and was owned for many many years by a very respectable animal loving family.
Would be great to see them put one back in that area (would make a change)
Hope they do it!

Albion102 says:	Fri 1st Jun 2007, 12:00 AM

Last time I looked I was European.

Jackdaw says:	Fri 1st Jun 2007, 12:00 AM

According to Norman Wallis' business partner Peter Grommat the area next to McDonalds is to be a dolls house museum.

As long as planning permission is obtained.

andy24 says:	Fri 1st Jun 2007, 12:11 AM

PMSL oh dear. I hope not

john6 says:	Fri 1st Jun 2007, 12:13 AM

i agree username2! I remember it as it was where the skate park is today! I wish they would move the skate park away from the side of the pier as it degrades the area a bit as i always got litter and looks tatty! also I have said for ages southport could do with an aquarium like the sealife centre in balckpool.... but when i went past there a month ago it looked really tatty and cheap looking and in poor condition as did the shops at the front of it! So maybe Blue Planet Aquariums should be asked to have it haha!

john6 says:	Fri 1st Jun 2007, 12:23 AM

A dolls house museaum?..... y?...... well i will give it that ... its different! haha! doesnt southport have an outdoor one of them.... the model railway village? haha (put your hand up if you want an aquarium in stead? lol)

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